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"Great voice acting"

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"Ridiculously good fun "

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One of the best games of the last generation

Uncharted 2 is the best of the series of 3 games which came out for the PS3, Uncharted 1 got decent enough reviews and is a very good game in it's own right but Uncharted 2 is widely loved and is no doubt the best.

Our hero is Nathan Drake, a young Indiana Jones type who is always searching for lost treasure with the help of his old pal Sully, a cigar smoking good time older fella. The very first scene sees Nate clambering up a train that has crashed and is hanging off a cliff, it is one of the best opening scenes of any game I have ever played. We know no real back story and just have to navigate the way to safety.

This game follows Nate while looks for the lost fleet of Marco Polo. It literally feels like you are in a movie, you can be doing anything from travelling through a jungle trying to avoid enemies, to travelling through the Himalayas with a sherpa who speaks no English. You of course also have to solve puzzles, navigate some very high ledges all in the spirit of Indy himself.

This game truly shines through the script, it is excellent, so different, so funny and irreverent. You really end up caring about these characters and their journey. The voice acting is excellent, Nate is brought to life by the brilliant Nolan North, an excellent voice actor who has a long list of credits including Assassins creed. It also has a brilliant cinematic soundtrack.

One of the best games of the last generation without question, if you haven't tried it, treat yourself to a journey.

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When Tomb Raider dropped the ball, Nathan picked it up

For years, the computer industry has been banging on about "interactive entertainment" and games that play like films. Such titles (Dragon's Lair) have often looked stunning, but suffered from limited gameplay. The Uncharted series on the PS3 is probably about the closest you are going to get.

The game sees adventurer Indy-style adventurer Nathan Drake dragged into a quest to locate the lost treasure fleet of Marco Polo. Needless to say, there are lots of people who want to stop him and collect the treasure for themselves, so as well as following the clues Nathan must also look out for people who want to kill him.

The defining feature of the Uncharted 2 series is their superb scripts. I don't want to bang on about it, but this really is the sort of game that could easily be made into a Hollywood film. With a few minor tweaks, the plot for Uncharted 2 could easily form the basis of a new Indiana Jones or Tomb Raider movie. Playing Uncharted 2 feels like a genuinely cinematic experience, with some superb presentation that drips with atmosphere. It feels epic and, like the best adventures, takes you all over the globe to exotic locations that fit into the game beautifully.

Levels are made up of a mixture of cut-scenes that progress the plot and sequences where you directly control Nathan. Initially, this can be a little tricky to get your head around: the animation is so fluid that it's sometimes difficult to tell when a cut-scene has ended and you are back in charge of the character, as it segues seamlessly from one to the other. That said, a quick flick of any button on the controller will soon tell you!

The action centres around a combination set pieces (escape from a particularly hazardous situation) and exploration (get to a certain point, find a certain object). Although levels often boil down to achieving one of a small number of objectives (survive, find something, talk to someone) they never feel repetitive. This is because the narrative is so strong. You genuinely believe there is a reason why you are performing all these actions and that the circumstances are different each time. What you are doing feels part of a coherent narrative, rather than feeling like a hoop the developers are making you jump through in order to reach the next stage. The story and player elements are so well integrated that, for once, you can use the term "interactive entertainment" without a knowing, cynical smirk on your face.

Sure, the gameplay can sometimes feel a little limiting. Whilst it's never quite as bad as the old Dragon's Lair games, the format does occasionally feel like you watch five minutes of cut-scenes then undertake a few small actions before the cut-scenes kick in again and it sometimes feels like the gameplay is a little more linear than some other similar titles. Drake himself is a pleasure to control with well-thought out button presses that soon feel very comfortable and logical. They are not so numerous that you struggle to remember them, but nor do you feel limited as to what you can make Drake do.

I found that I didn't really mind the more linear approach to the gameplay. It makes it harder to get lost, do the wrong thing, or spend hours wandering around not knowing what to do. Of course, the flip side of this is that it can be frustrating if you come across a puzzle you don't know how to solve, as this can block further progress - but that's what an internet-based walk-thru is there for!

One big attraction is that Amongst Thieves is a title that with patience anyone can complete. This is a definitely a Good Thing as far as I'm concerned. Although I've been playing video games for over 30 years now, I'm not actually that good at them. My gaming collection is littered with titles that I love, but that I've hit a brick wall with and lack the skill to be able to get further. Among Thieves does its best to help the player. For a start, there are several different difficulty settings, ranging from Very Easy to Very Hard (with an additional Extra Hard level unlockable). The easier modes (obviously) tone down the difficulty level but also provide hints on what to do, where to go and give gentle reminders on how to control Drake. Developers Naughty Dog have created a game for everyone. For casual gamers (or people who are a bit rubbish, like me), there are the easier modes; for more advanced gamers, the harder difficulty levels offer more of a long term challenge.

As you've probably already picked up from comments elsewhere in this review, presentation in Uncharted 2 is exceptional. At the risk of over-using the term, there really is a cinematic feel to both the graphics and the sound. The graphics look stunning with detailed, well-defined backdrops and beautiful, fluidly animated characters that look very realistic (within the context of the game).

The whole game is accompanied by an orchestral score that, like the narrative, would not sound out of place in a film. Loud, bombastic themes herald moments of exciting action, quieter segments indicate when a more stealth-based approach is required. The sound adds a tremendous amount to the atmosphere helps make Uncharted 2 a genuinely immersive experience.

Uncharted 2 was my first experience of a Nathan Drake game. It was a series I'd heard overwhelmingly positive things about and having now played Among Thieves, I can only echo those sentiments. Yes, it might be a little on the short side and fairly easy to complete (particularly on the lower difficulty levels), but when set against the stunning presentation and level of fun, this is less important. Veteran developer Naughty Dog have once again shown that they understand what it takes to produce a fun, accessible and good looking game.

Uncharted 2 is going to cost you around £18 for a new copy or £10 for a second hand one. It's worth every penny.

(c) Copyright SWSt 2013

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Wow, just wow. Uncharted 2 is truly the greatest game to have graced the ps3 and all consoles for that matter. I can not think of a single game that has the breathtaking storyline, superb graphics and easy to pick up play such as this game.

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A fantastic game all PS3 owners should play.

Uncharted: Among thieves is the follow up to 2007 game Uncharted: Drake's Fortune by developer Naughty Dog. Firstly, let me say I haven't played Drake's Fortune, so can not compare this product to the previous game. All I can say is that Uncharted 2 is an excellent third person shooter fo the PS3.

*Gameplay*You play as Nathan Drake, an archeologist of sorts (think indianna jones with guns, though that is a crude comparison) who is searching for a mythical artifact the Cintamani Stone. Unfortunately a Serbian war criminal is also after the stone - hence combat ensues. Drake can carry a range of standard weapons (mainly pistol, machine gun, shotgun and gernade launcher) and you can pick up new weapons whenever you come across them. Drake doesn't have to blast his way through everyting though as a number of missions give you the option of a stealty approach, complete with silent takedowns. The game also used a cover based combet system where you stick to cover and pop out to fire. This system works well for the most part, but I found some problems breaaking from cover in some areas. Drake is also very agile and can climb buildings and this mechanic provides some tense moments in the game (like climbing a series of train cars haning from a bridge which is collapsing around you). The only problem with these climbing sections is that you cannont just grab on to anything and have to follow the set path and this takes away an element of creativity. The campaign is long and satisfying and comtains pleanty of twists and turns along the way.

*Characters*Drake is accompanied/hindered on his journey by a range of companions. I will not go into detail, but will say that these characters are well thought out and believable and really add an emotional attachment to the game. Cut scenes flesh out each characters personality almost like a film, helping you get sucked into the story as whole.

*Visuals*The game looks struuning. The graphics are some of the best ever seen on consoles. From snowy mountains to luscious jungle and war torn cities the environments are perfect.

*Multiplayer*Uncharted 2 contains a fully fleshed out multiplayer with both co-operative and competative modes. The co-op modes allow three players to play through gunfights and platforming sections, working together to complete opjectives. The competetive multiplayer allows ten players to compete across 6 game modes raning from straight up deathmatch to king of the hill and plunder (capture the flag).There is pleanty of fun to be had after you complete the single player campaign and multiplayer also has a nice perks system to liven things up

*OVERALL*Uncharted 2 provides a great story with interesting characters and top class visuals. A must play.

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Indy/Tombraider action adventure that sets the PS3 on fire!

UNCHARTED 2: AMONG THIEVES (PS3)

The studio executives responsible for converting classic video games to the movie screen are a bunch of clueless, morally bankrupt, bastards. Bastards made of piss. Foul smelling acid piss that would melt your face off in an instant if they so happened to be pissing on your face. Which they are, every time you shell out cash for one of their movies! With making a shitload of money the sole object of such an endeavour, rather than actually putting in the effort to make a half-decent film, said executives have gleefully raped and pillaged their way though our collective gaming memories, reducing much loved characters and titles to a shambolic mess of their former incarnations. Angelina Jolie's take on Lara Croft? A CGI-swamped piece of awfulness. Paul W S Anderson's Resident Evil musings? Utter wank. JCVD's Streetfighter 2? Pitiful! These executives should be placed on a bonfire alongside the charlatans that think incessant remakes and sequels are what humanity really needs. Quickly, light a match so we can burn all these feckers and their money before Half-Life is bastardised all to hell...

Luckily, the reverse is not always the case in the gaming world (so long as you can ignore the swathes of film conversion cash-cows that are nearly always unrelentingly shit; Golden Eye - exception to the rule, obviously). Indeed, it's where game designers have instead borrowed heavily from the style and themes of movie genres and pasted such content into an original story arc and game dynamic that frequently derives success in the modern gaming world. Dead Space, for instance, is very much Ridley Scott's Alien, yet features its own wonderful creature design and engaging plot to add to the creeping, nerve-shredding tension. Red Dead Redemption is any Clint Eastwood or Sergio Leone western cliché you care to think about, which really is no bad thing. Grand Theft Auto has slowly become a pastiche of Scarface, albeit without an over-acting, shouty Al Pacino in the lead. And Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is, quite simply, what Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull should have really looked like!

Okay, so lead character Nathan Drake may not have a trusty fedora and bull-whip, or a PhD in archaeology, or be on the run constantly from Nazis, but what he does have is the hunt for an actual ancient relic as opposed to some bollocks alien artefact (ZING), which isn't archaeology Spielberg! Nathan does share Indy's common traits of being a smug, swarve git that gets all the girls though. He also shares a rather handy knack for getting himself into various states of mild peril. Take the cliffhanger opening at the start of Uncharted 2 for instance. Bleeding heavily from a bullet wound to the stomach and dangling by a thread as the creaking, derailed train he clings to stares down into the abyss below; it's a magnificent start to any game, let alone movie. Immediately the player is engaged. What the hell has happened here? How has Drake found himself in such a dire situation? And after taking control to assist Nathan from surviving near certain death, you're sure going to have fun finding out. So starts a kick-ass adventure that begins in a Turkish prison, takes in exotic locations such as Borneo, a bombed out Nepal, and the mountains of Tibet as Nathan attempts to locate Marco Polo's lost fleet and the legendary Cintamani Stone before nefarious evil-doers can get to it first. Not so he can put it a museum, of course, but so he can sell it to the highest bidder. Okay, so not very much like Indy in that case.

At first it may seem like Uncharted 2 is a bit of a Tombraider clone, yet it outdoes the Lara Croft vehicle on all fronts (apart from the obvious frontage), whilst managing to bring it's own gameplay mechanics to the fold. Nathan has some handy circus skills available that allow him to free-climb buildings, mountains, the north face of the Uxbridge Road - you name it he can climb it - but this is all done so much more elegantly than in Tombraider. Add to this some diverse, intuitive (rather than illogical) puzzles and you have a perfect platform jumper. The addition of a third-person shooting dynamic would normally jar against the running and jumping aspects (see Tombraider), but here it works incredibly well. Borrowing a cover system reminiscent of Gears of War is a smart addition, but the real winner is the fluid motion and control in targeting enemies and blowing the crap out of them. It's swift, easy and more reminiscent of a mouse and keyboard than any PS3 controller. Remarkable!

Yet there's more. Uncharted 2 also has room to entertain a stealth option allowing Nathan to creep up on enemies and partake in some instant take-downs or one-on-one punch ups. It's not Batman: Arkham Asylum's combat system by a long stretch and the stealth function is much more limited, but it certainly adds to the gameplay variety of the package. There's nothing quite like sneaking around the side of a building, jumping to a lamppost, hiding behind the attached advertising hoarding and dropping a grenade or two on the unsuspecting enemies below. BOOM! Of course with so many game styles involved there's always the chance that developers Naughty Dog might just over-egg it with the game mechanics. Just look at the wretched car-crash that comprises the god-awful Metal Gear Solid for instance! Uncharted 2, however, is exceptionally well balanced throughout. Just at the point where constant shoot-outs in the streets of Nepal might become slightly tedious, the game switches tact, leading to a lengthy puzzle section where dodging traps and reaching lofty places requires some expert leaping and, just before that starts getting a little dull, the balls-out wall to wall carnage resumes. The pace and variation in the gameplay is simply a joy. And that's without mentioning the major set-pieces that frequently occur...

There really is nothing quite like a huge tank crashing through a Tibetan village in chase of the player to set the pulse racing. It's a frantic, exhilarating sequence of legging it through claustrophobic alley-ways and ducking for cover on the roofs of bombed out stone buildings, with an unrelenting mechanical monster hot on your tail throughout. Terrific stuff! As is the gunship missile attack that fells the building occupied by the player at one point, which is simply pant-wettingly awesome. Not too be outdone, hanging off the side of train carriages whilst pulling enemies to their doom isn't bad either (although you will ask yourself how many smegging carriages does this blooming train have at one point).

There are simply stonking sequences after stonking sequences throughout Uncharted 2, yet the reason they stand out is not due to the sheer implausible Indy-esque audacity of each scenario, but the palpable cinematic visuals which accompany the game. Uncharted 2 is absolutely stunning to look at even when so much is going on. Jaw-dropping even. The detail is exquisite, everything moves unbelievably smoothly and the varying landscapes and backdrops are simply gorgeous to view. The train section, is simply amazing, spicing up what is a fairly generic gaming sequence into something fresh and invigorating. The production values just add a further breath-taking element to every gun-fight, every take-down, every leap; you could be forgiven for thinking you were watching an Indy film (not Crystal Skull of course) rather than playing what might otherwise have been a fairly standard arcade adventure game. That's how telling the visuals are. The PS3's capabilities are really pushed to the limit and boy, does it make Uncharted 2 all the better for it.

Indeed, Uncharted 2's cinematic credentials are perfect elsewhere as well. Acting throughout is quality with a terrific voice-cast assembled. Nolan North is charismatic and dryly witty as Nathan, exactly what's required for the central player character. His sardonic banter throughout with Chloe, Flynn and Elena makes the fil... sorry, game, genuinely entertaining and engaging. The script is also reassuringly self-aware. Nathan's comment of 'looks like we need to go up' when he's spent most of the game climbing stuff raises a wry smile, particularly when Elena responds that she would rather gouge out her eyes with a spoon than do any more fecking climbing (or words to that affect). Most importantly, though, the cut-scenes, usually a right sticking point in games of this type, drive the story forward in a meaningful way, rather than being as bothersome as a horny dog attempting to dry-hump your leg. They're generally concise, to the point and mean you can get back to gallivanting across the globe in search of treasure and shit before you can say suck on this Lara!

If there is anything to criticise then Uncharted 2 is a little slow to get going. So much so, that you may end up playing Batman: Arkham Asylum to death instead (it's more immediately engaging), before returning to Nathan and company some months later. The controls can also be a little fiddly, especially when attempting to take cover, resulting in some stupidly annoying deaths. And, in some ways, the finale is ever-so slightly disappointing...

Yet these are small fry concerns when considering the quite fantastic accomplishment Naughty Dog have delivered. They've managed to merge the cinematic style of the movies with some of the best gameplay yet seen on the PS3, creating a near-perfect form of future entertainment. Anyone with a PS3 should own this. Anyone without a PS3 should go and buy one so they can own this. Chuck your X-Box 360's on the fire with those bastard executives so we can celebrate in unison and pray that Nathan Drake's memory isn't sullied in the future by an ill-conceived big screen outing. For this is quite close to gaming perfection.

Overall - Time to hang-up the fedora and bull-whip Indy. Nathan Drake is the new treasure-hunter on the block.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is available as a PS3 platinum title for £19.99, but you can get it from Amazon now for £15.22.

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One of the best games on the PS3

Uncharted is a PS3 game made by Naughty Dog. The Uncharted series started with Drake's Fortune where the story begins and is picked up again in the second game, Among Thieves. I haven't played the first game, but you get to understand everything during this game so it's not really important.

Story:Nathan Drake is asked by Harry Flynn and Chloe Frazer to help them steal a Mongolian oil lamp that is in an Istanbul museum. They believe this oil lamp may hold the key to the location of Marco Polo's Lost Fleet which was carrying the Cintamani Stone, a large sapphire believed to have great power.

However, things don't go as planned and Drake ends up in jail and Harry ends up with the map. It then becomes a fight to see who can find the stone first, leading them all to different places and causing them to risk their own lives.

The story has many twists and turns, leaving you wondering who you can trust and if anyone will find the Cintamani stone.

Gameplay:The idea of the game is to climb, jump, fight and make your way through the locations, sometimes having to complete puzzles as you do. There are many locations in this game, although some look much bigger than they actually are as you can often see for miles, but have limited options on where you can go (such as when jumping from one building to another).

The game starts off with Drake in a train carriage. He is badly injured and has to find a way out, which is where you come in. You have to help him escape. It is after you survive this that the story flashes back to the very beginning where you find out about a job. The game then takes you back to where it left off, at the top of a cliff, and you begin to learn the controls as you find your way through a wreckage. Considering how injured he is it's not very realistic for what he does (climbing and leaping), but Drake is a strong character who is determined to survive. After being knocked unconscious from an explosion the story flashes back to the past again and this is where the real game begins.

The controls are easy to learn and you can pick up the game and just start playing. There are a number of weapons, all of which are simple to use, and the character can be controlled well, allowing him to walk, jump, climb and shoot. There are times when you attempt to jump from one place to another and find yourself jumping in the wrong direction, but it seems a common thing as similar games such as Tomb Raider: Underworld, Prince of Persia and Assassin's Creed all cause you to jump badly at times.

I'm not the biggest fan of games that require lots of shooting, but this game makes aiming and firing simple and effective.

Glitches are quite common in Uncharted 2. At one point I fell through a solid floor and was hanging off the edge of the ground while everything around me was bright yellow. I could still see the buildings that I'd been walking between and the men that had previously been shooting at me were now walking by calmly. I could even go along the floor, through into buildings. It would be better not to have any glitches, but it's something all games suffer with. In this case the glitch didn't help or hinder me; I was able to climb back up where I'd fallen and continue the game.

Characters:Nathan "Nate" Drake voiced by Nolan North. Drake is the main character in the game and the one you control.

Harry Flynn voiced by Steve Valentine. Harry is a treasure hunter and the one who approaches Drake about the job.

Chloe Frazer voiced by Claudia Black. Chloe is an old girlfriend of Drakes.

There is great interaction between the characters and it's almost as if they are real people. As the game goes on you really get to know these characters and their personalities.

Online:I've only been online once and, while a nice feature to have, loading times were slow and there wasn't really anyone online it seemed. It took a long time to find other players and even longer to set the game up.

I waited for the game to set up and it was worth it. I played the co-op game. Once the game started I was with two other people and we started playing the level. To a point we were all able to work as a team; killing men and making our way through the place. However, we eventually came to a door. Being Drake with two women characters I was clearly the one who was meant to open the door, only I had no idea how. Often opening doors requires going elsewhere to open it from the other side or it comes up with the button you need to press when you go up to it. Seeing no option to open it I began looking around for another way and tried different nearby paths which seemed to lead behind it, but all of these led to a cliff edge. This seemed to anger the other two players and they kept shooting at me! I actually died a number of times. Eventually I went back to the door and began looking around the area wondering if I'd missed something and all of a suddenly it told me what button to press. I'd been in that exact spot when I first got to the door so I guess it either lagged or glitched. So after wasting quite a bit of time for no reason I opened the door and we went through.

After this we had to kill more people. Due to dying so many times before thanks to my team mates who killed me rather than attempting to help in any way, whenever I got shot after that it took me a lot longer to respawn which meant it became rather boring. During the times I was able to play the game was as good as the single player.

Half the time the other two either disappeared leaving me to shoot many people or have no idea which way I should be going. It wasn't always obvious, but I'm guessing the other two had played before as they ran straight off and seemed to know exactly where to go. To be fair, the other players did come and get me and lead the way when I did get lost. I suppose if you play online often you learn where to go and can focus more on other things. This also helps if the game lags and skips over important things as you move round, such as a ladder leading to where you need to go.

If you know where you're going or play online with friends and are happy to wait a few minutes for the game to set up then the online feature it great. Would I go online again? Possibly, yes, but only if I wanted a change from playing the career mode and had a lot of spare time as you can't just play a quick game that's a few minutes long.

Audio/graphics:The game has great voice acting and even during the gameplay you will hear Drake talking, making the game seem more realistic as he's not just talking during the video sequences. Sound effects such as the guns also sound good and really add to the game.

The graphics on this game are impressive, although some parts look better than others. During the cut scenes you can see the amount of effort that has gone into the graphics and the audio.

During the game you can see the detail that has gone into the buildings. The rest of the surroundings and the characters look good too, but don't always have the same detail as the buildings. If you look at the characters expressions they don't always look as you'd expect, but each character does have individual features. Overall, the graphics are pretty amazing.

Extra content:There is extra content that is available from the Playstation store.

Overall:This is a great action/adventure game that has an interesting storyline and good controls. Certainly one of the best PS3 games and well worth buying.

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The Reason To Buy A PS3

I got Uncharted 2 bundled with my PS3 Slim, and I wasn't dissapointed. This is one of the only games that I have played that has a good story line (there is regularly videos which I like because you are not just doing something for 'no reason'). This is what makes the game different to Call of Duty which has an almost in-followable story line.

This whole game is in 3rd person which has advantages and disadvantages, the main advantage being able to look round corners and objects and the disadvantages being you can't look down the scope of a weapon. However as a lot of this game is jumping, swinging and dodging; 3rd person is the most suitable.

The action/adventure side of the game is brilliant and although sometimes a little confusing, it just adds to fun . The action/adventure sides often requires you to become strategic, for example one level, where you have no gun you have to take out guards in a certain order, or you will get caught.

The shooting side of the game is where it lets itself down. Certain enemies cannot die unless you shoot them in a exact place, twice. Shooting is the most unrealistic part even though, however, doesn't ruin the fun.

Overall the game is quite a long game, it has 26 levels. This levels are not short and some take a significant amount of time to complete.

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Brilliant

If you have played the first game then know what uncharted is about, if not then you really are missing out! this is simply a wonderful franchise and both 1 and 2 are amazing games!

Everything about his game keeps a smile on my face all the way through. The visuals are really top notch as is the sound. But what i like most about this game is the story line, and the characterization of Drake. The one liners really are hilarious and there are a lot of laughs to be had in and outside of the main story line. One particular part that you could miss is when walking round the Tibetan village, if you wander off track and do a bit of exploring Drake will interact with everything around, from cows, to kids, to footballs. It really is little touches like this that make the game better than others like it.

I did however think that the storyline was not as good as the first uncharted. But it is still a wonderful adventure that if you haven't played it, you really are missing out.

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Greatest PS3 exclusive

In my opinion this is the best PS3 exclusive made. Stunning visuals, good story fantastic gameplay and cracking multi-player mode make this potentially the best game on the PS3. The graphics for this game are outstanding and show what the PS3 is capable of, locations such as a snow storm, tropical rainforest and mountains all look beautiful. The snow in the first level is the most realistic I have seen in a game. The story is even better than the first Unchartered; there are many twists and turns with the story leading the main character Drake all over the globe. Drake is a very likable character and interacts well with the rest of the cast. The gameplay is top-notch as-well, shooting and melee attacks both feel natural and the ability to climb and jump all over the scenery give an extra dimension, hanging from a ledge and pulling a goon over the edge is incredibly satisfying. However for all this praise of the I have not mentioned the games crown jewel and that is the multiplayer mode. There are the normal type of death match games and capture the flag (except the flag is a treasure) but there are also co-op modes. These modes include 3 small stories created for up to 3 people to take on and a survival mode where up to 3 players have to survive 10 waves of bad guys with each wave getting harder (last few waves are very hard). This is a must own games for all PS3 owners and a reason to buy a PS3 if not.

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Worth the purchase for single-player alone

___Background______________________________________________Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is the sequel to the hugely popular Uncharted: Drake's Fortune, following the exploits of adventurer Nathan Drake across the world, this time in pursuit of the mythical Cinncimati Stone, as he attempts to remain one step ahead of his rivals.

___Story___________________________________________________I must confess, I have never played Uncharted: Drake's Fortune and so had no background knowledge of the story or characters prior to starting the game.

However, this did not in the slightest hinder my enjoyment of the exquisitely told story and fleshed-out characters (who crucially are different to the usual stereotypes found in similar games).

The story goes into a lot of detail but it never seems overwhelming and the visually stunning cutscenes are well worth replaying at the title screen in order to truly appreciate the genuinely funny humour (something few other games can boast).

Also, this is one of the longest games I have played in a while, it will take a casual player like myself about a week and a half to complete the story on normal (compared to 2 or 3 days for recent games such as Modern Warfare 2).

___Gameplay_______________________________________________A large portion of play time will be spent running and gunning. Luckily, the shooting mechanics are enjoyable, with a good cover system (albeit one which sporadically positions the player in direct line of enemy fire) and a multitude of weapons (battles become much easier when tried with different guns so experiment).

Hand-to-hand combat is simple to use - simply tap 'square' to perform a combo and press 'triangle' to reverse an opponents attack.

Perhaps the most satisfying part of combat though, is taking down opponents using stealth attacks. Strategy plays a key part here, and experienced players will be able to make it across entire rooms without firing a single shot.

The traditional platforming aspects are, for the most part very good, with the ledges and climbing surfaces well integrated into the environments (if a little too conveniently at times), however the camera can at times cause a movement or jump to be misdirected, possibly causing an instant death. This is only a problem in a few sections of a few levels but it is incredibly frustrating.

___Visuals_________________________________________________The game is very impressive visualy, the characters seem both lifelike but with a caricaturistic style which fits perfectly with the over-the-top playing style.

The environments are well detailed, varied and at times, beautiful (although this can lead to the player attempting to access a part of the game world which simply doesn't exist.

___Audio___________________________________________________Uncharted 2 sounds good, most importantly, speech is synched perfectly to the visuals for most of the game and the music does an exemplary job of creating an atmosphere unique to the individual level, but still obviously a part of the game's overall score.

___Bonus__________________________________________________Uncharted 2 does a great job of including extra content for avid players to unlock and encourage extra playthroughs.

Among the content that can be purchased using in-game currency (earned through spectaculary achievements) are behing-the-scenes videos and multiplayer skins, ensuring you'll always have a wish list of what to unlock.

DLC has also been released but I have not purchased it.

___Online__________________________________________________I am afraid to say that I have been unable to access the Uncharted 2 online multiplayer.

This is regretful as a reading of the features makes it appear very appealing and I would love to experience the game play with other human players.

Unfortunately, on mulitple occasions, when I try to connect the game freezes at the 'synchronising' stage. I have checked with friends and they too have experienced this problem, allegedly that stage can take 5-10 minutes, however this is unacceptable and thus a great disappointment to someone who would otherwise likely enjoy the online experience.

However, although many people have experienced no problems, online play can be best described as flawed (although I imagine Naught Dog will be attempting to fix this) and certain sections can be rendered frustrating due to an occasionally poor camera.

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Best Shooter/Adventure Game Available

Uncharted 1 was promising but flawed. Uncharted 2 improves the game in every possible way and even throws in some multiplayer play just for the fun of it.

The Graphics are very impressive, Naughty Dog are the first developer to truly utilise the power of the PS3. The graphics are shown of the great effect by the range of locations feature in this game, from stunning mountain vistas to colourful Tibetan villages, the colours and visuals make that expensive TV worth it.

The story is very good, with a mixture of comedy and romance. The story feels like a Indiana Jones movie with great action set pieces that are slightly ridiculous. But it is all in good fun.

The gameplay is mainly climbing and running but the combat is just as good. An intelligent cover system and compelling gun play means the game is a pleasure to play. Which makes for a decent online effort, excellent for those tired of the stale Call of Duty offering.

PS3 have to buy this game, it is by far the best game on the console and as found a niche that allows it to grow in the future.

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good while it lasts...pick it up if you find it for under £15

Introduction

as we all know Uncharted is the reason alot of people own a Playstation three. The first (Drakes Fourtune) was one of the greatest single player games of all time. The lack of multiplayer didnt change a thing as the single player had more then enough gameplay time for two games. So when i heared that Among Thieves would have both a single campaign and multiplayer game modes i was over the moon. Then i played it.

Plot

SPOILERS, DONT READ THE PLOT IF YOU HAVE NOT FINISHED THE FIRST GAME. Despite making his millions in the first Uncharted Nate finds himself on a sunny beach drinking a beer when he approached by an old friend. He talks of a buyer looking for Nate to steal a highly guarded but worthless jade lamp from a turkish history museum. How ever the lamp turns out to be a key to the lost treasure of Marco Pollo. Here we go again.

Features

This game looks stunning. The best graphics on any game to date. It uses the full power of the playstation 3 to deliver a visual experience that is mind blowing and raises the bar that i dont think any game on this generation of consoles can ever meet. The detail on Nate an the world around him brings a tear to my eye. The physics and the way that things in the world react to what Nate does are spot on the lighting and rain fall effects are so real its scary. But Among Thieves has a dark side...

Gameplay

There is a massive problem with Among Thieves and this is that the solo player will take around 6 hours to complete. This games it one of the shortest i have ever played. However it does have some new features like stealth missions, silent take downs, new fighting moves and a roster of new weapons. But all this is pointless if theres only a few hours to use them in. The multi player really doesnt do much either. Its just the standard death match, free for all and capture the flag that take to long to load and frankly is boring. Also with nothing to work for online there really is no point in playing for more then a few hours in all.

Conclusion

This could have been one of the best games ever. If only it wasnt so damn short. I would have thought that with no replay value and little reason to play online this would get traded in within 8 hours of game play in all. Better luck next time perhaps?

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Awesome , Epic!

Ok, I bought this game for xmas last year, and cannot recall ever looking forward to a game quite as much as I did this particular title.From the initial title screen, this game is pure "Holywood", but in a good positive way.We join Drake (the central lead character) on yet another quest, except this time its fully GLOBAL! You start on a abandoned train, that is literally teetering on top of a mountain side. I do not want to include any *spoilers*, sufficit it to say, the first few levels are slow burners, each mission level, or country seems to makes sense as you go farther and farther towards your goal!This game is epic, lets be really clear about that, there are son many set pieces ...My personal highlights are : the towns scenes, (I think its in India), the texture, colours, and lighting really make you want to travel to that particular part of the world!The train mission, basically you follow drake as he boards a train at break neck speed, as it snakes around the most beautiful vistas and scenery's yet seeen.AAAAHhhh and rest, the control system is intuitive, the graphics sublime and several months on after its release date, they still are yet to be better!Another point to mention re the graphics, is the motion and the frame rate, U2 plays at a consistent 60 frames per sec, which is impressive, particularly when you thing of the physics engine, The water ripples, weather effects and so on.This is one of the best games I've played.Only slight niggle, I completeed withing 8 days, I think it would have been better if it was slightly harder, just a point.Buy it, you wont't regret it!Mark.

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Miles better than the first game, and i gave the first one 5 stars, you figure it out

The absolutely amazing sequel to uncharted is to me, one of the best sequels ever made. most of the time in sequels to games, they totally go off story or completely change something about the character, but the thing i like about this game is that the main character is still the same in the way that he is still a treasure hunter. Also, the way the game plays out is a lot of the same, which in some ways is a let down but i think its good that they haven't gone too different from the first story. Dont get me wrong, it isn't the same game with a different name, on the contrary there is a lot of things different with this game and the first one, i can just see some similarities.i thoroughly enjoyed the first game and i enjoyed this a lot more, it was just so much longer than the first game, and so much easier to get into, there was no confusing parts of the game either where i was wondering where to go, so it made it really god to play through, i almost never got annoyed when i was playing it. i recommend you go and buy this game, but you should go buy the first game first, just so you know more about the characters and the gameplay.

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An absolute must have for the Playstation 3

The first Uncharted game still stands as one of the ps3's best games and is a must buy for anyone who owns the system. To say the sequel improves on the original is an understatement as this is not just one of the ps3's best games but of the next gen as a whole.

Nathan Drake is again the protagonist, however on this occasion he undertakes a globe spanning trail searching for Marco Polo's lost fleet. Going from a Turkish museum to a Tibetan village, the pacing and scale of this game is second to none. The game is littered with breathtaking visuals and stunning set-pieces, some unlike anything you will have experienced before. Imagine moving torwards the front carriage on top of a moving train whilst being engaged in a hectic firefight also fending off the helicopter attacking from above. This is just one of several pulsating moments in the game.

Gameplay is the same as Uncharted 1, however this is no bad thing as the first game was already as near to perfect as you can get. A slightly refined sstealth attack system has been added though giving you more variety in approaches to a given situation. The cover system works perfectly with this franchise and there was no reason to adjust this for the second game. The rest of the experience is made up of scaling walls and cliffs and solving puzzles to uncover the mysteries of the game. The puzzles are not too challenging but make you think nonetheless and are a welcome part of the game.

Interactions between characters are superb throughout and every major character brings something to the table in terms of the overall story. The voice work is great with new characters sounding as convincing as the remnants from game one. The score of the game works well too ramping up the tempo when battle commences and slowing during the more emotional moments.

This is without a doubt the best game of last year and has a strong claim as the best the ps3 has to offer. If you enjoyed the first game then do not hesistate to pick this up.